Mission Hospital was founded in Mission Viejo in 1971 and has continued to develop new programs and services to meet the ever changing needs of the community. In 1993, Mission Hospital partnered with CHOC Children’s to provide pediatric services and a year later, became a member of the St. Joseph Health network of care. In 2009, Mission Hospital expanded its geographic footprint to include south Orange County’s coast line by acquiring Mission Hospital Laguna Beach.

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Mission Hospital has an award-winning staff that is leading the way in medical ingenuity. Our accomplishments have led to such awards as the Outstanding Achievement Award for the Commission on Cancer in 2008 – causing us to be one of 66 hospitals in the entire nation to be honored. Combining care for the mind, body and spirit, we take a unique approach to every individual patient.

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At Mission Hospital, our Centers of Excellence offer a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to a specific condition. Choosing where to receive your healthcare is an important decision. When you choose Mission Hospital, you benefit from the convenience of advanced technology, and the peace of mind that comes from being cared for by compassionate staff.
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Heart Center

Heart Failure Education

The highly skilled medical experts at the Mission Hospital Heart Failure Program provide evidence-based care for heart failure patients. Our mission is to equip our patients and their families with the tools necessary to manage heart failure for improved quality of life and minimal hospitalization. We provide one-on-one education to our patients and their caregivers on topics that include medications, lifestyle modification, symptoms to recognize and when to contact the physician. Prior to discharge, you will receive educational materials and resources. If possible, it is best to have your significant other or caregiver with you during this education session. A video about heart failure is available for you and your family to view as many times as necessary.

What is Heart Failure?

Heart Failure is a condition that affects the heart’s ability to pump and receive blood. This decreases the ability of the heart to maintain the needs of the body and might lead to congestion of the lungs and body with fluid; thus the term “Congestive Heart Failure.”

What are the Common Risk Factors for Heart Failure?

High Blood Pressure

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) or Previous Heart Attack

Diabetes

Increased age

Smoking

Obesity

Drug or Alcohol abuse

Family History

What can I do to Decrease my Risk?

You can decrease your risk by:

Adequately treating high blood pressure

Exercising

Losing weight (speak with your physician about a goal that is right for you)

Quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke

Avoid excessive alcohol intake (ask your physician about what is right for you)

What Should I do if I Have These Symptoms?

The key to successfully treating heart failure is to diagnose the condition in its earliest stages and manage it aggressively to prevent symptoms from worsening.

Diagnosis

After you have described your symptoms and your physician has performed a physical examination, one of several diagnostic tests may be used to diagnose heart failure and assess your current heart health.

These diagnostic procedures may include:

Echocardiogram: an ultrasound of the heart that is used to evaluate the structures of the heart and its ability to pump blood.

Chest X-ray: used to check for congestion of the lungs and to detect an increase in the size of the heart.

Stress testing (stress echo or stress nuclear studies): usually done after an initial phase of treatment and helps to evaluate for blockages in the heart vessels or coronary arteries.

Cardiac catheterization: a procedure involving the injection of dye into the heart through a needle inserted into the groin. It is used to find out if there are blockages in the heart vessels. Devices such as a stent or angioplasty may be placed during this procedure that help to “open” the blockages.

Treatment

The main goals in treating heart failure include:

Recognizing symptoms of heart failure is the first step in managing and treating heart failure. Early detection can prompt you to seek medical care in a timely manner.

Controlling symptoms and improving the overall outcome using the appropriate therapy.

Lifestyle modification is one of the main ways to treat heart failure and includes the following:

Quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke.

Follow a low-sodium diet. You should consume no more than 2,000 mg of sodium per day (refer to nutrition labels). Do not cook with salt or add salt to your food.

Exercise. Consult your physician prior to beginning any exercise routine. It is important to know how well your heart is functioning so you have realistic expectations for your activity level.

Weigh daily as this is one of the most important ways to detect fluid retention. You should call your physician if you gain more than two pounds from one morning to the next or 5 pounds in a week.

Fluid restriction. You should consume no more than 2 liters (64 oz.) of fluid per day.

Take all the medications as they are prescribed by your physician.

Medications are prescribed to improve quality of life, symptoms of congestion, avoid hospital admissions and prevent stroke or heart attack. Your doctor may prescribe any combination of the following types of medications:

Diuretics: work in the kidney to rid body of excess fluid (examples include: Lasix/Furosemide, Aldactone/Spironolactone, Metolazone).

Digoxin: improves the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.

“Blood thinners” help prevent heart attack and stroke (may include Aspirin and Coumadin/Warfarin).

Additional treatement are available, such as

Opening Blocked Arteries - If you have blocked coronary (heart) arteries, your physician may advise you to have a coronary artery bypass surgery or a stent or angioplasty (devices to open the blockage).

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy - Your physician may advise you to have Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT). This is a surgical procedure that includes placing a device in the left upper part of your chest (like a pacemaker) that is designed to synchronize your heart contractions so that your blood is pumped more effectively.

Heart Transplant - Your physician may refer you to a heart transplant center for evaluation. Not all heart failure patients qualify for a transplant.

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) - This is an implantable heart pump that may be used as a temporary treatment until a heart transplant can be performed or as a permanent device. This is used in patients with advanced stages of heart failure.

Patient and Family Resources

The following are additional websites that may help you understand heart failure and how it is treated.